Puppet Path and Spider Queen
“Are you sure? You didn't see it wrong?”
It was only natural for Seol-hee to be shocked. The sword mounted on her back was Unique grade as well—a masterpiece she'd commissioned from the Meister Guild for a small fortune.
“I'm certain. Hunter Choi Hyun-seong definitely possesses a crafting class.”
With conviction from her subordinate, Seol-hee mulled it over.
Then it makes sense why he's so strong. Did I miss something?
It didn't add up. No one could overwhelm a B-rank hunter and craft Unique-grade items.
Her thoughts tangled into a mess.
I need to meet him in person and talk.
She couldn't hold back any longer. She'd confirm his identity herself, and if he seemed suspicious, she'd deal with him on the spot.
I can't let someone like that make more.
Still, she figured she'd hear him out first.
“Where's Choi Hyun-seong right now?”
“He entered the Bukaksan D-rank dungeon, Spider Cave.”
For someone awakened less than a month ago, it was an aggressively fast challenge. But considering Hyun-seong's proven strength, it didn't seem impossible.
Thud!
Seol-hee grabbed her beloved sword and rose from her seat.
“Lead the way. I'm settling this today.”
“Understood.”
As Seol-hee brushed past Yun-seo and strode out of the office, her expression was grim.
Please.
Deep down, she prayed her last remaining friend from childhood wasn't a Rogue.
“Dead end.”
Hyun-seong shrugged at Hyun-ji's dejected look at the blocked path. As expected, the passage they'd chosen didn't lead to the boss.
They'd run into a few more tarantulas on the way back, building some hopes that were now dashed.
“Nothing we can do about it.”
Too early to get discouraged—they'd only checked one path so far. Dungeons like this could feel like mazes sometimes, but picking a straight shot had been lucky in a way. Backtracking was easy.
“Let's head back.”
“Yeah.”
Hyun-ji nodded and took point on the return, fully embracing her role as the frontline now.
“But, oppa. Can't you use that Puppeteer thing on monsters?”
“Nah, you totally can.”
Puppeteer skills were actually perfect for monsters. Using them on allies came with restrictions.
Good thing her Shaman class maxes out buffs. If she couldn't use other skills...
Monsters were the way to go.
“Then why not?”
Hyun-seong was curious about her sudden question.
“Well, if you can control them like puppets, couldn't we make a tarantula scout the path for us...?”
Hyun-ji trailed off cautiously. Hunters had an unspoken rule against prying into each other's abilities. And though she wasn't prying exactly, she'd been under his coaching this whole time, so she treaded lightly.
Did I overstep?
Especially with Hyun-seong's extraordinary talents on display—it made her hesitant.
“That's genius.”
His reaction was the opposite of what she'd feared.
“Why didn't I think of that? I've been too focused on your growth.”
After a quick self-reflection, Hyun-seong readily adopted her idea.
He'd been right. D-rank dungeons like this dragged out clears on purpose, unlike E-ranks. The boss was the clear condition, hidden away cleverly.
But if they could pinpoint the boss's location early and strike at will, why waste time?
Fill the bag, then clear.
Pre-scouting meant no detours, clearing on their timeline. Hyun-seong's view of Hyun-ji shifted—she was full of clever ideas like this.
Is she really a genius?
He'd sensed it in combat: her skill usage, adapting mana on the fly. She was built for this life. She only stumbled with totally new things, then mastered everything after.
Worth raising properly.
At first, he'd just aimed to get her self-sufficient, safe from mockery. Now? Ambition stirred.
Why not aim for S-rank?
The pinnacle rank didn't seem so unreachable.
With her potential...
“What're you thinking about? Awed by your little sis's genius moment?”
Her smug grin made him want to scrap those thoughts.
“Seriously, cut out the weird internet crap.”
“Ugh! It's not because of that!”
“So you do watch it.”
“Annoying! Quit teasing!”
Bickering like that, they retraced their steps to the three-way fork.
“Let's pick one. We'll hit tarantulas eventually.”
“Okay.”
This time, they followed her lead. Barely a minute in, a tarantula appeared.
Kee-eek!
Hyun-seong hit it with Puppeteer immediately. Success rates varied by conditions, but with his sky-high mana stat, they didn't matter.
Quii.
The now-docile tarantula obeyed calmly. He sent it down an unchecked path while they backtracked.
Thanks to Hyun-seong's Puppeteer, they found the boss. Ironic—the last path they'd planned to check was the right one.
He released all but the navigator tarantula, focusing on Hyun-ji's fights.
She'd battled over ten times since entering, honing her shield work and adapting to her stat-boosting gear against one or two foes at a time.
Puuk!
She drove her sword into another tarantula's forehead, flicking off the green blood. The sticky stuff never came off easy—every fight was a mess.
“Maybe it's time for a new sword.”
Hyun-seong checked the blade at her casual nudge. Two million won well spent—it had lasted impressively for cheap gear. But the edge was dull, and it shattered on anything tough.
“It was junk from the start. We'll grab one next time.”
“Can't you make me one?”
He shook his head at her plea.
“Swords especially need care. No point crafting disposables.”
“Some artisan pride, huh?”
She eyed him like she'd uncovered a new side.
“That too, but materials suck right now. Once we hit higher dungeons for good stuff, I'll make you one.”
He wouldn't bail—swords were her most vital gear. He'd vowed to show her gear's power; it had to blow her mind.
“Cool. Can't wait.”
Grinning, she sheathed the blade and checked his bag.
“Boss time? We can bag a few more on the way—should fill it up.”
He nodded, stowing the byproducts from the last tarantula and pointing toward the navigator's position.
“This way.”
“Whoa, I already forgot where that fork even was. Would've been lost without you.”
Amazed, she followed his lead toward the boss.
The chamber was webbed thickly, with three dormant tarantulas and the Queen Tarantula looming.
Hyun-seong dissolved the navigator with Puppet Release and watched how she'd handle it.
“Just take out the big one, right?”
“Yeah, but those three won't let you.”
“Best to pick 'em off one by one. I'll be careful.”
Sring.
She drew her sword, unslung her shield, and charged the Queen at full speed. The sticky floor could've tangled her feet otherwise—she focused hard.
Entering range, the Queen spotted her, and the three guards reacted instantly.
Kiyaaak!
The Queen screeched like a command. The trio fired webs from their abdomens.
Tung! Tung! Tung!
Dodging was tough on the gluey ground; she blocked with her shield. Noting their reload time, she closed in.
“Haaap!”
She unleashed a skill for speed.
Shak! Shak!
Double Slash?
Two swift strikes, far faster than normal. Two guards took heavy leg and face wounds—not crippling, but solid.
Regrouping calmly, she held defense. They couldn't web yet, jaws their only option—predictable.
The webs on her shield annoyed, but she had a plan, banging it with her sword.
Tang! Tang!
Enthralled, the tarantulas charged the shield.
Using Conviction Obsession by banging the shield...
The aggro skill, normally verbal. She'd tied it to the shield. Intentional or not, he'd ask later—the fight was won.
Clean up the three calmly, then...
The Queen would be alone. Bigger, but no special tricks—easy pickings.
As expected, she dismantled the blindly charging trio and advanced on the roaring Queen.
“It's over.”
Hyun-seong watched her line up the forehead stab.
“Hrret!”
Leaping to match height, she thrust.
But—
Ting—
Incredible timing. The cheap sword snapped.
The Queen seized the moment, jaws aiming for her landing.
Far deadlier than the guards'. Hyun-ji panicked visibly; Hyun-seong raised his hand for Puppeteer.
Then—
“Argh, screw it!”
She thrust her shield forward with a skill.
Bash—usually sword-based.
Pakak!
The Queen recoiled in agony, thrashing.
Thud!
Hyun-ji pressed with shield strikes. No teeth? Use gums. No sword? Shield it was.
No need to worry.
Hyun-seong watched her finish the Queen.
They looted, rested briefly, and exited.
“Whew~ Finally alive.”
Caked in green blood, she looked terrifying saying that.
Then—
At the dungeon entrance, Hyun-seong spotted an unexpected face.
“What brings you here?”
“Choi Hyun-seong. Let's talk.”
The sudden visitor was none other than Min Seol-hee.